YOUNG people in Caernarfon have been encouraged to submit their poetry and STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) entries, with winning pieces to be featured at an event at a UK festival.

Those aged between four and 18 have until 11.59pm on Sunday, January 9 to send in their work, with winning entries to feature in ‘About Us’, an outdoor event exploring 13.8 billion years of history, which opens ‘UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK’ in March 2022.

From March to May 2022, ‘About Us’ will run for a week in Paisley, Derry–Londonderry, Caernarfon, Luton and Hull, with bespoke multimedia installations open throughout the day, and multiple free projection mapping shows every evening.

The judging panel includes Ifor ap Glyn, National Poet of Wales, and author and TV broadcaster Rachel Riley.

‘Connectivity and the universe’ is the theme of the ‘About Us’ competition and young people across the UK are invited to enter a poem or ‘Scratchanimation’ project (or both) that reflects on the many ways in which life across the universe is interwoven.

Judith Palmer, director of The Poetry Society, said: “Young people’s creativity never fails to amaze us.

“We can't wait to see what inspires young people about science, the natural world and the web of inter-reliance that connects us all together.”

Martin Green CBE, chief creative officer of ‘UNBOXED’, said: “'UNBOXED' features ten major multi-site and digital creative projects that share new ideas and possibilities for the future and are produced by creatives from across science, technology, engineering, arts and maths.

“It is fitting that the ideas and inspiration of children and young people will shape the opening event of 'UNBOXED' through a nationwide competition that brings together poetry writing and technology.

“'About Us' is an invitation to consider our awe-inspiring universe, a huge-scale exploration of the vast networks of connection that take us from the Big Bang to now.

“I am so excited to see how these epic themes will be enriched and emboldened through the contribution of young people.”